Grant Budget Specialist

Sustainable Westchester delivers climate solutions to the governments, businesses, organizations, and people of Westchester County. Through its innovative programming, extensive relationships, and effective advocacy, Sustainable Westchester has been at the forefront of regional and statewide efforts to achieve a clean energy transition, conserve natural resources, promote environmental justice, and help member communities become more prosperous, healthy, resilient, and equitable. For more about the organization and its activities, please visit https://sustainablewestchester.org/.

Description

Sustainable Westchester is seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Grant Budget Specialist to support our administration of the Department of Energy (DOE) funded Renew America’s Nonprofits grant program. This contract role will play a critical function in helping nonprofit subrecipients plan and prepare for energy efficiency and electrification projects under the grant.

The Grant Budget Specialist will work closely with the Sustainable Westchester Building Decarbonization team and nonprofit partners to develop preliminary budget allocations, confirm energy upgrade workscopes, analyze technical and financial documentation, and ensure accurate planning that informs future disbursement phases.

Key Responsibilities

Budget Planning:

• Review energy efficiency reports and project proposals from nonprofit subrecipients.
• Develop and manage individualized budgets based on proposed electrification and energy efficiency measures, staff needs, outreach/engagement costs, travel, and other allowable expenses.
• Incorporate applicable financing mechanisms, rebates, and incentive programs to align budgets with Department of Energy's cost-sharing requirements.
• Coordinate with selected nonprofit organizations to refine and finalize budget estimates.
• Maintain clear documentation to support budget planning and submission to the Department of Energy.

Grant Disbursement Preparation and Oversight:

• Design tracking systems and processes to monitor costs and grant disbursement flows once funding begins.
• Build frameworks for ongoing cost monitoring, reporting, and compliance with federal grant requirements.
• Support internal team members in creating financial reports, disbursement schedules, and tracking tools to facilitate a smooth transition from planning to implementation.

Qualifications

• Experience with federal grant budgeting, especially in the nonprofit or clean energy space.
• Strong financial analysis and budget development skills.
• Expertise with energy efficiency or building electrification projects is a strong plus.
• Ability to read and interpret technical proposals (including both engineering and energy upgrade plans) and integrate various funding streams (grants, rebates, incentives).
• Exceptional communication and coordination skills when working with external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in spreadsheets and budget management tools.
• Experience working with DOE or NYSERDA programs is a plus.

Contract Details

• Hours: Part-time, estimated 15 hours/week
• Compensation: $60 per hour

At Sustainable Westchester, we don’t just accept differences of background, identity, or point of view – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our work, and our community. Sustainable Westchester is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, ideology, sex, sexual orientation, gender, age, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and organizational need.